Initiatives

The support provided by the Jackson-Hope Fund is a source of inspiration and encouragement to the Institute’s faculty and staff to develop as teachers and scholars who are able to stimulate and promote academic engagement among cadets.

To meet its goal of advancing academic excellence at the Virginia Military Institute, the Board of Overseers has worked with the Dean of the Faculty to develop funding priorities for initiatives that boldly advance academic achievement.

The Fund has been used to support curricular and pedagogical innovations within traditional academic disciplines, faculty development programming, professorships in emerging areas of study, and purchases of special equipment and computer resources.

Because of resources provided by the Jackson-Hope Fund, VMI’s undergraduate research program grows stronger each year. The result is an atmosphere of inspired teaching and purposeful learning that is reflected in VMI’s high national rankings among colleges and universities.

“The Jackson-Hope Fund makes it possible for VMI to pursue initiatives that are essential to the vitality and long-term success of our academic programs,” said Brig. Gen. R. Wane Schneiter, Deputy Superintendent for Academics and Dean of the Faculty. “

With the help of Jackson-Hope, we have pursued key initiatives that make VMI a distinctive college, such as promoting undergraduate research across the curriculum, developing the academic study of leadership, and creating interdisciplinary minors in Science & Security and Writing. We also have used Jackson-Hope resources to recruit, retain and develop an outstanding faculty that is committed to undergraduate education. Without Jackson-Hope, our efforts in these areas would be greatly hindered".

The Jackson-Hope Fund is making a great difference at the Institute, especially in the following areas:

The VMI experience is framed by relevant education within a military environment. It’s an education that develops character, fosters a lifelong appreciation of physical fitness,engenders a sense of responsibility to others, and cultivates
the ability to master adversity.